What the hell have I been waiting for? GP and the Rumour are one of my favorite bands and they kicked out so many good tunes. I guess I had a hard time choosing one (there will be more). ‘Stick to Me’ just kicks arse and gives a good taste on what kind of music these guys played. Hard hitting rock n roll with so much punch. The Rumour were just one of the best rock bands in my book. Up there with the E Street Band, The Heartbreakers, The Band, Asbury Jukes (they all learned their trade gigging in clubs and bars).
But it’s Parker that is the fuse. His vocals just suit the music. I saw these guys in their heyday and it was one of the best nights of rock n roll I was ever part of. ‘Stick To Me’ tore the house down. How did I find out about these guys? Well, Bruce Springsteen said (I was talking to the Boss one day)*they were one of the best live bands he had ever seen. That was good enough for me.
So many tunes I could have picked but this one comes up when I’m belting out songs and pretending I’m a big rock star or just a guy singing in the bar. Man would I like to turn back the clock and hit that show again.
*(Just some CB bullshit)
I need to investigate GP further. I always knew about him back in the day, but I only ever heard one or two songs.
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tref this is just one single of so many good sides. He really is good whether with the Rumour or solo. Hook into ‘Howlin Wind’ or his anthology ‘Passion Is No Ordinary Word’. You really can’t go wrong with any of his out put in my books.
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On it.
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When I want something done right now I am calling you.
(Just watched a film from your side tonight ‘Wild Bill’. Really enjoyed it).
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Have we talked about Parker? I’m a fan but need to spend time with releases other than Squeezing Out Sparks.
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Maybe but just in passing. He really is a talent. He came from that Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello gang (all of who I really like) but I listen to GP more. ‘Sparks’ is where I started but I went back and found all his early treasures. The album this cut is off is a killer. So is ‘Howlin Wind’ (probably the one I listen to the most).
Because I’m doing my chronological album thing I haven’t got to Parker yet. I would think that some of his tunes would really appeal to your pop ear. He knows how to write a good tune.
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I love his cover of The Jackson 5’s ‘Want You Back’ too.
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That’s right. We talked about that. Man when he released that I was blown away. Totally against the grain. This pub/bar guy taking that song and giving it his all. What I love about music. Great surprises like that.
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Terrific band. I saw them around the time of Squeezing Out Sparks. And I saw them about six years ago on one of their reunion tours. Do you have a favorite album by them?
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We probably seen the same tour. “Terrific band” is right. Graham keeps turning out good stuff.
Those first albums with the Rumour are musts in my pile. I guess I reach for ‘Howlin Wind’ the most. I take the ‘Anthology’ for walks for the variety. Also his solo album ‘Live. Alone In America’ is a beauty.
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I think that Heat Treatment album is my top pick.
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Like I said those first few albums are some of my favorites.
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I like Parker and band too but never saw. That anthology sounds tempting. Did GP teach Elvis Costello to sing or was it the other way around one wonders.
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The anthology is a great dose of GP with the Rumour and solo. Yeah the Costello thing was close. I’m to lazy to research but I would guess Parker was around first. Very similar styles. Good ear Doc. Like I said on an earlier comment, I listen to Graham more than all those guys from that bunch. It might be the punch that the music had.
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I’ll check that anthology out. But I gotta say for me I’m an EC guy all the way. His music is great, lyrics incomparable. Especially in that era.
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No argument Doc. Apples and oranges. I dig all those bands big time. Like you do your meticulous research at the time i went and found some of the places these guys came from. Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe
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On the “live” front, just think of all those great bar bands you saw and crank it to eleven and you have GP and the boys. I think you said it before. Bands nowadays just don’t learn their chops gigging night after night years on end like these guys did. Your fave band out of Liverpool learned their chops that way.
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Concur once again, CB. A great band. I have “Howlin’ Wind,” and it just kicks butt.
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Great cover on that record. Even better music inside the cover.
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I really like this. I like most of what I’ve heard of Parker, but I’ve never jumped into an album. Where’s a good spot to jump in?
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Both greenpete and Yeah Another Bloger picked ‘Howlin Wind’ and ‘Heat Treatment’ from their pile. Real good place to start. My first kick was ‘Discovering Japan’ but hey J, I’m a groupie I’ll take anything he does.
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Excellent! You rarely (if ever) steer me wrong, so I’m headed to Parkersville!
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I know you dig the vinyl. I have a cool album by him called ‘Parkerilla’. Very cool cover. Hook into ‘Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions’ one of those songs that just grew and grew on me. Once you get that groove in your head you’ll be done.
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The Parkerilla… live album? See it’s on Spotify, so I’ll jump on in!
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You know what? I think I’ll give it a spin on the old turn table and relive it tomorrow.
On another note. We had a quick chat about maybe collaborating on The Doors ‘Morrison Hotel’. I know you are a little busier than CB. I have a take in the bag. Any thoughts on how we could pull that off? Or just let it slide. As usual I’m in no hurry. It’s such a great record.
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Ah! Yes we did! I’d be up for getting something together for that. I’ll get to getting… I’ll also email you and see how we can pull them together!
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Now you’re talkin…
Thom
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Enough messin around. It was time for GP and the boys.
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